Ave Maria is a 1984 French drama film directed by Jacques Richard, who co-wrote screenplay with Paul Gégauff. Plot Fifteen-year-old Ursula awakens to sensuality with Paul, a teenager of her age. She lives in a small village, in a fairly closed environment, strongly steeped in religion. The inhabitants of this village live under the domination of the defrocked priest Adolphe Éloi, whom everyone calls "the Holy Father". The latter and his companion Berthe Granjeux, "the Holy Mother", try to subdue the young girl who is truly the only one who does not accept their tyranny. They try to make her feel guilty, and it is out of revolt that the teenager imposes herself and opposes them with increasingly perverse tendencies. On Christmas Eve, Adolphe Éloi’s "faithful" are on trial. During this night dedicated to exorcism, Ursula must undergo an avalanche of corporal punishment intended to cleanse her of all her sins. Primary cast Anna Karina - Berthe Granjeux Féodor Atkine - Adolphe Eloi Isabelle Pasco - Ursula Pascale Ogier - Angélique Dora Doll - Constance Bernard Freyd - Mathieu External links French drama films 1984 films Films with screenplays by Paul Gégauff 1980s French films